#CHEVY COBALT SS MODDED MANUAL#
The XFE comes with low-rolling-resistance tires on 15-inch wheels and different manual transmission gearing to reach 37 mpg. So would a tilting front seat.Ĭhevrolet added a more efficient engine for all Cobalts for 2009 that adds variable valve timing for more power and better mileage.
A telescoping steering wheel, which the Civic and Corolla include as standard equipment, would have helped with overall comfort. In its fixed position, the seat base was so flat I slid forward during braking. More problematic than panel gaps or rough plastic is how little adjustability there is in the seats - so little that long drives were uncomfortable for my 6-foot, 175-pound frame. Those looking solely for a fuel-efficient, no-frills car, however, may not be put off by that. The cheap materials and jagged plastic edges inside the Cobalt radiate an aura of cheapness. Though GM has competitive interiors in some models, the Cobalt is a great example of the flaws that gave the company a bad reputation. The Cobalt is also available in a high-performance SS version, which is reviewed here. As an overall package, it leaves something to be desired. While the XFE’s gas mileage is impressive, and the Cobalt does have competitive features, its interior refinement and ride quality aren’t up to par with the competition. The Cobalt only manages to hit that mileage mark with its manual transmission, however fuel economy takes a big hit with the optional automatic that most buyers will choose.
As Chevrolet’s commercials want you to recognize, the Cobalt’s 37 mpg is better than manual versions of the Honda Civic (34 mpg), Toyota Corolla (35 mpg) and Ford Focus (35 mpg). The race to do so brought Chevrolet’s otherwise-underwhelming Cobalt compact car into the spotlight with an XFE (eXtra Fuel Economy) model that bumped the Cobalt’s highway rating to a best-in-class 36 mpg.įor 2009, there are even more XFEs: Manual versions of the base (Value Leader), LS and LT trim levels, with 15-inch wheels, all get the designation, now rated at 25/37 mpg city/highway. When gas prices peaked in the summer of 2008, automakers quickly turned out models with improved gas mileage to ease consumers’ concerns.
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